The Jerry Springer Show celebrates 3,000 episodes in a two-part special tribute airing Thursday May 11 and Friday May 12 in national syndication (check your local listings.)

It's Jerry Springer's 3,000th show and in honor of this television milestone, Jerry is throwing a gigantic party for the show's staff and all his celebrity friends - none of whom bothered to show up! But as Jerry waits for his guests to arrive, he'll take his audience through the 15-year history of The Jerry Springer Show including clips from the very first episode. Also included are our most memorable guests and we didn't forget viewer favorites like Kenny, the half-boy; Denny, the 800 lb. man; Lori and Dori, the conjoined twins; the KKK, Springer Cam, food-flinging and those weddings gone wrong. There's even a surprise ending when Jerry delivers his 3,000th final thought in song. Needless to say, it's a television event 15 years in the making!

"It's been a wild ride and fans will enjoy tuning in and seeing the best from all of our 15 seasons...can you say 'best' and Jerry Springer Show in the same sentence?" said Springer of his 3000th episode celebration.

In celebration of the 3000th episode, fans can participate in an online Sweepstakes by logging onto www.JerrySpringerTV.com. "The Jerry Springer 3000 Episodes Sweepstakes" allows viewers to vote for their all time favorite Springer clips. The first five (of 20) "best of" clips are on the website and available for voting. New clips will be posted each Monday giving users more chances to enter. Viewers can vote once each day for a chance to win the Grand Prize: $3,000 cash and an all expense paid trip to Chicago to see a taping of The Jerry Springer Show live!

Premiering on September 30, 1991 and now seen in more than 200 US markets and 50 countries around the world, The Jerry Springer Show, has become part of pop culture. From the cover of Rolling Stone to an award-winning Opera based on the show, The Jerry Springer Show has made its mark in television history.

Springer celebrated the 3000th show by receiving several special mementoes. In honor of the 3000th episode, Illinois State Rep. Jack Franks issued a Resolution honoring Springer stating, "We congratulate Jerry Springer on his 3,000th television broadcast and proclaim "Jerry Springer Day" in the great state of Illinois." Also as part of the 3000th Show Celebration, Springer traveled to New York City's world famous Carnegie Deli, where a sandwich was named in his honor. The sandwich features lots of tongue and baloney. Springer, who grew up in New York, said, "I knew I was a hot dog, but now I am a sandwich." World famous artist, Charles Fazzino dedicated an original three-dimensional painting capturing the history of The Jerry Springer Show and presented the painting to Springer at a special party in his honor.